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San Francisco subpoenas Uber, Lyft on driver pay

Authorities in San Francisco are investigating Uber and Lyft over driver pay and benefits.

San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera (D) subpoenaed the two ride-sharing operations on Tuesday for records on whether they treat their drivers as independent contractors or full-time employees.

“Our laws also guarantee employees basic humane benefits like sick leave, health care, and paid parental leave,” Herrera said in a statement. “We are not going to turn a blind eye if companies in San Francisco deny workers their pay and benefits.”

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The move comes on the heels of a California Supreme Court decision that will make it harder for businesses to classify so-called gig economy workers as contractors that aren't entitled to the full pay that have to be paid to workers. Companies will now have to prove that their workers are running their own businesses in order to classify them as contractors and deny them the full pay and benefits that employers are required to give employees.

"Lyft has a long track record of working collaboratively with policymakers, including the SF City Attorney, on important issues," Lyft spokesman Adrian Durbin said in a statement to The Hill. "We look forward to helping the City Attorney's office fully understand Lyft's business model, including our relationship with drivers."

Uber did not immediately respond when asked for comment.

Herrera’s office subpoenaed Uber and Lyft for a list of all the people who’ve driven for them in the past three years and documents clarifying their employment status and hourly pay.

“If your company is valued at $62 billion, you can afford to give your workers health care,” Herrera said in his statement.